Breaking of the bow

When Rama stepped into the hall where the bow was kept, everyone present asked Rama to try and lift the bow. Many present there thought how would a young person like this manage to lift the bow, when they themselves had tried and failed.

Lakshmana asked Rama to lift the bow and dispel and doubts of the people present. Rama asked for permission from Vishwamitra.

Rama easily lifted the bow. This was the bow of Shiva, so Rama was scared to break it. He asked Vishwamitra what he should do. The sage said do as you feel like; lift the bow and break it.

Rama pulled at the bow, with a mighty sound the bow broke into two.

Such was the noise that people present were momentarily deafened. The worlds started shaking.

Janaka was elated. Music started playing. Rama went to the house of a priest of Janaka where he was taken care of, by the priest's family.

Vishwamitra then went to Janaka's palace.

Sita seeing the sage, bowed down before him. Janaka asked the sage to find out an auspicious time and moment when Rama's marriage could take place.

The sage then went to the place where Rama and Lakshmana were. He told Rama it was wish that he weds and goes home with his bride.

Rama said it had been many days since he had seen his father and further delay would worry his father. All four brothers were born on the same day, so it did not seem correct to get married, when they were not present. Also, they would like to marry one who had daughters who could get married to the other brothers. 

Rama goes to Janaka's palace

The sages blessed Rama for saving the sacrifice.  The offerings of the sacrifice was distributed amongst all. All were tired and went to sleep early.

The next days the sages were discussing among themselves about the previous day's happenings. They said Rama was not an ordinary person, but a God who was amongst them.

Hearing this Vishwamitra said that King Janaka was arranging a swayamvar for Sita. The sage said many kings had come to win Sita but all fled seeing the bow that had to be lifted to win the princess.

Rama and Lakshmana left with Vishwamitra to see the bow of Shiva. When they reached the palace gates, a message was sent to Janaka that Vishwamitra had come with slayer of Taraka.

The king welcomed them and made them comfortable. Vishwamitra told Janaka all that had happened.

Janaka after hearing this, wanted Rama as the husband for his daughter. People hearing this thronged to see the princes.

Janaka said anyone who can break the bow of Shiva can take my daughter Sita as his wife.

Rama wanted to see the bow and Janaka decided to take him there. At that momemnt. Sita with her attendants was also there. She asked her companions to find out who the handsom princes were, especially the dark one.. The companion said that was Rama, prince of Ayodhya.

Janaka's promise

Janaka asked Parashurama the reason for his arrival.
Parashurama said he wanted to marry Sita.
Janaka said it would be Sita's great fortune to marry a great person like him. The only problem was that she was very small.
Parashurama said he would be in meditation and when time came he would arrive and ask for Sita.
Janaka bowing down before Parashurama asked him to whom should he give away Sita to, in case the great sage did not come?

Parashurama said he was leaving his bow there. Anyone who could lift the bow and string it would be a suitable husband for Sita.

The bow remained in Janaka's house. It was a wonderful bow, great in size and weight. As no one could lift the bow, a room was built around the place where the bow was kept.

The news of the bow spread all over.

Birth of Sita

While Sita was born after Rama, Let me tell you about the birth of Sita before the birth of the Lord.

Vedavati had given up her life and in that same spot, the city of Mithila had come up.

(Vedavati and her story is told in the Uttara Kanda, the last part of Ramayana.)

The great sage Janaka, became the king of Mithila. He was running around, pulling a plow with his hands on the fields. He was childless and hd been told he would be able to get a child in this manner.

Urvashi was flying in the skies, and seeing her Janaka was passionately aroused. His semen flowed and mixed with the earth, and took the form of an egg.

On the touch of the plow, the egg came up and was visible to all. The king broke opened the egg and saw a girl child inside the egg.

A voice was heard from the skies - This is your daughter. Raise her as your child.

Janak, elated, took the child home.

When he reached home, his queen wanted to know whose child this was. Janak repeating what had happened, asked his wife to take this child and raise her.

Lakshmi started growing in Janaka's house. Born in the furrow, she was called Sita.